Process of preparing starch.



completely at a low temperature.

rnoosss or rnnraame s'rsnon.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2., 1911,

Application filed June 12,1907, ScriaLNo. era r95.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnmomo'n T116211, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and resident of Harburg-on-the-Elbe, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Preparing Starch, of which the following is a specification. v

In the heretofore known'process of producing sticks of starch the starchpaste is desiccated in presses. The damp sticks of starch thus obtained are partly driedfor a short period and then either packed in paper and stored up for a longtime in a dr chambenor they are broken up and rie process always necessitates a very lon ing process (M chambers, especially if strong and thick sticks are desired.

This invention relates to anew process by which the'production of starchin pieces or sticks is very greatly accelerated, so that the bad efiect' of .the long drying operation on the quality of'the starch, chiefly caused 'by fermentation, is avoided.

The process consists in forming into blocks or tablets by pressure the starch powder obtained by rapidly drying the starch until it contains only about 15%Iof water and afterward grinding the starch, whereupon these blocks or tablets are subjected to the action of a current of warm moist air in special chambers. In this way the tablets or blocks crumble into sticks or pieces according to their thickness, and to the duration of treat-- ment, the pieces being then ready for the market.

The process for producing sticks of starch consists in forming tablets or pieces of starch of a certain weight by pressure, wrappin them up in paper orplacing themiin car board and then subjecting them to the action of warm moist air.

By wrapping u the tablets or blocks in paper or cardboar no repacking of the same in cardboard boxes for sale is necessary after they have been treated, the starch'being packed up ready for sale in paper or cardboard of a predetermined weight. For

instance the wet starch containing lO to 45% of water (the amount-of water depends on-the kind of. starch) is taken out and sifted and This, dry-' weeks) and large rying about 15% of water and then of the centrifugal separators or depositing basins and thrown into the vacuum apparatus and dried. quickly, one charge 'approximately about one hourand a half including filling and emptying. vacuum is about 50 C. The vacuum is kept as high as possible; in practice the vacuum s approximately equal to a 7 00 mm. column of mercury:0.92% of the total vacuum. The dried starch is passed to the mill by conveyors and then immediately pressed in suitable hydraulic presses. The pressed tablots or blocks are wrapped up in vpaper, placed on trucks in channels and -treated with warm moistened air at a temperature of 40-70? C.

The temperature is varied desired thickness and size ofthe sticks of starch. The tablets etc. soon crumble into sticks or pieces. This operation can be accelerated, that is to say, the action may be ,intensifiedby passing steam of ordinary atmospheric-pressure into the channels after the treatment with warm moist air. c In consequence of the rapid drying effected with this process the starch is prevented from decomposing. and a product of uniformly high quality is obtained. The pieces or-sticks are of a firm nature and may be of any desired thickness. The time saved in manufacture insures considerable saving in wages and space.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patnet of the United States is 2- 1 LA process of preparing starch for the production of pieces or sticks of starch powder consisting in mechanically extract.- ing a part ofthemoisture then rapidly drying the starch-in a vacuum until it contains forming the dried starchpowder resulting therefrom under great pressure, into tablets or blocks, and then subjecting said tablets or blocks to the action of a current of warm moist air; and continuing this action until the tablets crumble into small pieces.

' i 12. A process of preparing. starch for the production of pieces or sticks of starch from starch powder consisting in rapidly drying the starch until it contains about 15% of 1500 kg. of wet starch, takes according to the The temperature in the r .9 5. grinding it,

water and then grinding itj forming the dried starch powder resultlng therefrom into tablets or blocks at high pressure, wrapping two subscribing witnesses.

said tablets or blocks in paper or card- 5 boards and then subjecting them to the action of a current of Warm moist airfor from four to six hours.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of FRIEDRICH THORL.

Witnesses: GUSTAV WEBER, ERNEST H. L. MUMiimNHOFF. 

